Good morning. I felt that I had finally nailed an interesting & powerful portrait. I'd appreciate any comments on why this photo was not supported too well here.

Thanks so much.

Hi Porter I have taken your image back into Photoshop just to see up close and all looks very well in my view, Wonderful clarity and quality throughout - Composition wise also has very good balance. I would have published it. I will mark it old school out of 30......   28 / 30

Thanks so much, Daniel. I really appreciate your kind comments.

I agree with Daniel Springgay. It's a well done candid portrait.  Good luck.

Mike S. - Senior Critic

Thanks, Mike. Sweet!

Porter,

I should play a little bit with the light areas.

Theo L.

Thanks for the advice Theo. What made it difficult -- specifically the man's face -- was that he has both a dark tan & loads of sunscreen on his entire head. I experimented with a number of areas of luminosity & ended up burning his forehead & left ear a bit. His ear still looks too bright to me, but darkening it any more made it look unnatural to me. I'm going to stick the color version in here (it's currently in curation : - >) just so you can see. This was taken at about 1:00PM under clear blue skies so, obviously, I had shitty light, so decided to try to keep the drama by keeping the right side of his face in relative darkness. Cheers!

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for providing the original color version. The thing with b&w is that we never know what the base material looks like and what potential it has in an other conversion. I usually shoot in b&w, RAW s are color of course. But I have a red or orange filter applied in-cam with my Nikons. Both brighten up skin color, which gives people more presence usually. The downside is that red lipstick turns bright and blue eyes turn dark. Actually your surfboard almost turned black, but you'll see what it does to your motif here. I only applied a red filter in Silver Efex, plus increased the mid tone stucture. Here you go:

Simple, isn't it? Because it brightens up exacty those red tones in his skin while not doing the same for bright - hence not red - parts.

Best regards,

Mike

I want to thank you all for the fantastic & very interesting feedback. For me, this has to be the best way to learn. Sometimes, I agree; sometimes, I disagree, but the result is always a better photo. It's wonderful to be published & awarded on 1x, but this particular forum is the most important part of this site to me. 

Cheers,

Porter

Thank you very much for this fine compliment, Porter. Good to see you enjoy and appreciate the doings of our team!

Mike

Hi Mike - The only problem with this forum is trying hard not to overuse & take advantage of it. Cheers!

Haha, it's good to have an eye on that! 

Did you ever consider to write critiques? From my own experience I can tell you you will learn at least as much, if not even more, by writing critiques.

It would be a give and take, so you can take more :-)

Best regards,

Mike

Good morning, Mike. Are you talking about critiques in this forum?  In the past couple of months, I've been in the top five of critics for writing critiques as they come during the curation process. I've written hundreds. I didn't know if members could contribute here. Here's a random example:

This photograph depicts a solitary tree on a hill silhouetted against the cool glow of a patchwork sky. A touch of pink provides only warmth. The tree leans like a drunk. The hill is gently sloping, covered in a patchwork of grasses that add depth and texture to the scene. The overall effect is one of calm and solitude, as if the tree & the hill & the sky exist in their own world, unaffected by the chaos of the outside world. The photograph captures a moment of quiet contemplation and reflection, inviting the viewer to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature in its purest form. It is a reminder that even amid chaos and turmoil, there are moments of peace and tranquility waiting to be discovered.

This photograph is a close-up of a horse's eye, capturing the intricate details of its iris, long eyelashes, and the sheen of its coat reflecting in the light. The eye is intense and expressive, conveying a sense of strength, wisdom, and curiosity that can only be found in these magnificent animals. The image invites the viewer to gaze into the soul of the horse and marvel at its beauty and grace.

This photograph captures the delicate beauty of raindrops on dead leaves. The leaves, now a rich shade of brown, form a natural canvas for the glistening raindrops. Each drop is like a tiny magnifying glass, distorting the world around it and reflecting the muted colors of the surrounding foliage. The overall effect is one of melancholic beauty, as the leaves serve as a reminder of the passing of time, and the raindrops symbolize the fleeting nature of life. The photograph captures a moment of stillness and introspection, inviting the viewer to reflect on the transience of existence and find solace in the beauty of the natural world.

Kootenai Falls is the largest undammed falls in Montana and a major attraction to those traveling through the area. It offers an unforgettable and breathtaking view as the Kootenai River loses 300 feet in elevation, traveling a few hundred yards downriver. The falls and surrounding area are considered sacred to the Kootenai Indians, whose ancestors inhabited the region.

This photograph captures the intricate beauty of a single, glistening droplet of water resting delicately on the surface of a vibrant green pine needle. The droplet reflects the surrounding world like a miniature, distorted mirror. The image hints at the fragility of the droplet's balance, reminding us of the delicate harmony between nature's elements.

One possible critique of the photograph is that the colors are somewhat muted, with the black dragonfly blending in with the brownish-green grass. While this does create a sense of natural camouflage, it can also make the image feel slightly flat. Also, the lighting is somewhat flat, which detracts from the drama and contrast that could have been achieved with stronger shadows and highlights.

This photograph depicts a vibrant field of flowers in the South, basking in the golden light of the sun. The hues of the flowers are intensified, with the golden light bringing out their natural beauty and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The viewer can almost feel the gentle breeze blowing through the petals as the flowers sway in the field. The South Field is a picture-perfect backdrop for this stunning display of nature's splendor.

Cheers, man.

Hello Porter,

Yes, I'm talking about critiques in this forum, it's free to everybody to write here. Usually a critique goes into detail a lot more in this forum, you can show and present what you mean (don't have to, of course) and there is interaction - more than on the "after rejection" critiques. If you want, try it out...

Cheers!

Mike